You are inspired by the power of acting. You understand the critical relationship between the actor, the story, and the camera, and how it shapes an audience's reaction to a feature film, TV, or web series. You are ready for relentless self-discovery, and to take the necessary steps on your journey. You possess the commitment to hone your most valuable instrument – YOU. You are an actor.

An Education in Acting for Film + Television

A Year in Acting

Creative Specialist Bill Marchant offers an overview of the intensive one-year experience you will take on as an actor at VFS, from your first day in the classroom to your last day on set.

A Year in Acting

Prepare Your Instrument

Gain intense hands-on experiences to develop your vocal and physical instrument, as well as a strong imagination connected to truthful impulse. Build the techniques behind the most prized performances.

Prepare Your Instrument

Gain On-Camera Experience

Synthesize your new skills and shine in an intensive studio film set experience. Bring your role to life under the creative guidance of an experienced director and be ready for your close up. These final projects will be screened at your Grad ceremony.

EMERGE. Apply your growing skills to deep scene study and personal monologues. Discover the demands of Sitcom and the high stakes skills necessary for motion capture, green screen, and heightened dramas. Share your work at the end of the term in a live presentation.

FREEFALL. Experience an intense acting workshop that aims to free your impulse to elevate every performance. Voice Coaching sessions will further encourage ease and range in your voice to prepare you for the demands of feature film auditions and your introduction to the world of Voice Acting.

HORIZON. Think beyond the school and cement the work you’ve accomplished in the year. Shoot your film project and promo reel in studio to showcase your talents. Define how to be the driver of your own career and consider strategies for getting an agent.

program length

Time spent with instructors

Video of your class's projects, professional headshots, and a promotional package highlighting your acting work

Access to the VFS Alumni Directory and Job Board

A graduation launch on CastingWorkbook.com, including a one-year membership

Student Work

Voice Acting

Voice Acting requires a fully engaged actor; body, spirit, and voice. You'll gain valuable experience in a collaboration with students from Sound Design for Visual Media. Be prepared to create exciting animation characters, and face the challenges of prelay and ADR. This is your opportunity to refine your craft on the mic.

Voice Acting

Greenscreen Shoot

With the evolution of production technology, you will be required to apply your acting skills to many production venues with unique demands. The greenscreen shoot illustrates how nuances of your physical performance can determine the outcome of a shoot.

Greenscreen Shoot

Special Skills + Special Effects

As part of the Special Skills and Special Effects for the Actor course, movement classes introduce you to the intricacies of realistic physical combat. Experience armed combat with our partners, Academie Duello, in their specialized training facility.

Special Skills + Special Effects

Key Faculty

Our instructors are working actors with decades of experience in front of the camera and on stage. They are dedicated to sharing their extensive knowledge and expertise to help you thrive in your career.

Jennifer Clement

Head of Department

Jen has acted in over 100 theatre, film and TV projects in the course of her professional career. She has been teaching for ten years, sharing her years of experience, and passion for acting, with her students.

Bill Marchant

Creative Specialist

Bill's feature film Everyone won Best Canadian Film at the Montreal World Film Festival and was nominated for four Leo Awards. Along with numerous roles in Canadian television, Bill has written and directed short films and plays.

Nancy Sivak

Instructor – Acting/Audition

Nancy has been a professional actor in Vancouver for over 25 years. She has worked on the stage, as well as in television and film. Her involvement in the world of independent film has taken her to film festivals around the world.

Michael Robinson

Instructor – Improv

Michael has been teaching acting for over 32 years at institutions around the world. He has over 80 credits in film, television, and commercials, has won both a BAFTA and a Leo award, and is a two-time World Theatresports Champion.

Cara McDowell

Senior Instructor

Cara has been coaching actors, teaching drama, performing, and directing for over 20 years. Recent credits include the lead in London Assurance, Sandy from Asymmetry, and Ava in For the Country Entirely. Favourite directing credits include Oleanna and Ashes to Ashes.

Some Assembly Required

Stargate SG-1

Stephen King's Dead Zone

The Frighteners

Michael Robinson – Deputy Sheriff Butch Evans

The X Files

Jennifer Clement – Michele Wilkes

Waydowntown

Jennifer Clement – Vicki Strayhorn

The Twilight Zone

Nancy Sivak – Klara Hitler

Campus Life

Your year in Acting for Film + Television puts you in close contact with students in a host of other VFS programs, from writers and filmmakers to makeup artists and sound designers. This downtown training facility features near round-the-clock access to rehearsal space, computers, and everything you need to perform at your best. You'll also be surrounded by the city's best cafes, restaurants, and cultural attractions – not to mention some of the leading film and television production studios.

Guest Speakers

Film Production Collaboration

Participate in a collaboration opportunity with students from the Film Production program. The resulting short film project will become part of your portfolio and allow you to demonstrate your growing comfort performing for the camera.

Film Production Collaboration

Interactive Q + A with Industry Professionals.

Engage with experienced professionals. Participate in demonstrations and ask questions about the intracacies of working as an actor.

Interactive Q + A with Industry Professionals.

Slice

Build an initial network of actors who are on the same creative path. This event brings the whole VFS Acting department together and occurs once during the four-month Acting Essentials program.

Slice

CAREERS IN ACTING

As a graduate of the Acting for Film + Television program at VFS, you’ll be trained to act in a variety entertainment media. Each avenue draws upon a unique aspect of your acting training and will encourage the ongoing pursuit of your artistic growth.

Feature Films and Television Series

As an actor for film and television, you may take your first step as an extra or with a guest role. An opportunity in a feature film could raise your profile, helping you to land future roles, while securing the role of a continuing character on a series can provide you with provide years of lucrative work.

Voiceovers and Animation

There is a burgeoning demand for actors with particularly expressive voices and wide vocal ranges. You provide the voices for animated characters, or bring words to life for radio and voiceovers.

Commercials

Acting in commercials is often considered the "bread and butter" of the acting world, and relies heavily on strong improv skills. Engagements are short-lived but pay well.

When I said I wanted to become an actor, all the people around me said it would be impossible. Since graduating from VFS, I've performed in eight movies, fourteen TV shows, four musicals, and three plays – all in four years.

Marcus (Seunghyun) Han Running Man, The Queen of Office, Panda and Hedgehog​
Acting for Film + Television Graduate

My decision to enrol at VFS was one of the greatest choices I have ever made. I graduated with a much stronger knowledge of myself and who I am.

Aatash AmirzadehThe 100​
Acting for Film + Television Graduate

When one decides to be an actor, to tell stories, to essentially live terrifying and extraordinary experiences for an audience, how do they begin to train for such an undertaking? VFS honours the fact that acting is a craft. At VFS, a student will learn that their body, mind, and voice is an instrument; how to develop and use it. Training at VFS will be the integral beginning of a lifelong study.

We Can Help

We’re here to help you submit an application that best reflects your abilities, and gives you the best chance of being accepted. We've helped thousands of people complete a successful year at VFS by answering questions like these:

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